Sweeper



E. K. FURsTNow 2,046,679

SWEEPER Filed Deo. 2, 195.5 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 *L a Lr N c@ t, o l

r1 (n lo l \Q Q N Q3 u) I Inventor 22W/ K fzmfmw A tlorney July 7, 1936. E. K. FuRsTNow A 2,046,679

SWEEPER Filed Dec. 2, 1955 s sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor By Maa/5m@ A tlorneyf)` SWEEPER Filed Deo. 2, 1935 5 SheetS-Sheekl 3 m m m m 3 W M NQ "Xl/Vm 01. w

.A .m .ww @Illu M 6 A tomeys Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED STATES 2,046,679 RESSUED PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

'I'he present invention relates to new and useful improvements in sweepers of the power type and has for one of its important objects to provide a comparatively small machine of this character for use particularly in sweeping streets, sidewalks, Warehouses, etc.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a sweeping machine of the aforementioned character comprising a hopper having novel dumping means.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a sweeper of the character described which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, highly elicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, attractive in appearance, and which may be manufactured and operated at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a sweeper constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.A

Figure 3 is a View in vertical longitudinal section through the invention, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a frame I, the forward end portion of which is supported on a pair of rubber tired front wheels 2. The front wheels 2 are mounted on an axle 3 which is Journaled in bearings 4 beneath the frame I. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawings, the right hand wheel 2 is located Within the frame I for permitting sweeping close to a curb, wall or the like.

Rising from the rear end of the frame I is a rearwardly curved arm 5 having a vertical bearing 6 on its free end. Rotatably and slidably mounted in the bearing 6 is a vertical shaft 'I having a fork 8 on its lower end in which a rubber tired wheel 9 is journaled for supporting the rear end of the frame I. A steering wheel IIl is i'lxed on the upper end of the shaft 1. Pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on the arm 5 is a hand lever II having a yoke I2 on one end which straddles the shaft I below the bearing 6. Encircling the shaft 'l is a coil spring I3 upon Which the yoke I2 rests and which, in turn, rests on the fork 8. Suitable latching means I4 is provided for releasably locking the lever II in adjusted position. As is thought to be apparent, by adjusting the lever I I the rear end of the frame I may be raised or lowered. Further, the spring I3 yieldingly supports the rear end of the frame I. Mounted on the vertical bearing 6 is an operators seat I5.

J ournaled in bearings I6 beneath the rear portion of the frame I is the shaft I1 of a rotary broom I8. Extending forwardly from the broom I8 on the frame I is a hopper I9 having one side portion recessed, as at 20, to accommodate the right hand wheel 2. Projecting rearwardly from the hopper I9 is an arcuate shield or housing 2I which extends over the broom I8. 'I'he hopper I9 includes a forwardly inclined bottom 22 to the rear end of which a plate 23 is hingedly connected. Mounted on the free rear end portion of the hinged plate 23 is a rubber ground engaging lip or blade 24. 'I'he lower portion of the forward end of the hopper I9 is formed to provide a discharge opening 25 which is closed by a door 26 of substantially segmental cross section, said door including side walls 21. The side wal1s'2'l of the door 26 are pivotally mounted on hangers, brackets or the like 28 on the side walls of the hopper I9. The door or closure 26 is adapted to swing upwardly into the forward portion of the hopper I 9. An operating cable 29 is connected, at one end, to the door 26, said cable being trained over a pulley 30 on the forward end portion of the frame I and having its other end connected to a hand lever 3I on the rear end portion of said frame I. When in closed position, the door 26 abuts the forward end of the inclined bottom 22 and constitutes a continuation thereof.

Journaled in bearings 32 which are mounted on the frame I at an intermediate point is a transverse drive shaft 33 which is operatively connected to the axle 3 for driving the wheels 2 by a chain and sprocket connection 34 (see Figure 2). Mounted on the housing 2| is a suitable engine 35 which is provided with a fuel tank 36. A chain 31 is trained around a sprocket gear 38 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 33 and around a sprocket gear on the shaft of the engine 35 for driving said shaft 33. A suitable clutch 39 is provided for connecting and disconnecting the sprocket gear 38 and the shaft 33. The clutch 39 is operatively connected to a foot pedal 4B adjacent the operators seat I5 by means including a rod 4I, a bell crank lever 42, another rod 43, and a forked lever 44. A bearing 45 is provided for the shaft 33 at an intermediate 55 point. The reference numeral 46 designates a suitable brake for thev shaft 33,` said brake being connected by a rod 41 to a foot pedal 48 adjacent the operators seat I5.

Journaled in bearings 49 rearwardly of the shaft 33 is a comparatively short shaft 5U which parallels said shaft 33. Fixed on one end portion of the shaft 50 is a sprocket gear 5l over which the lower ight of the chain 31 travels. The shaft 5B drives the broom I8 in a counterclockwise direction through a chain and sprocket connection 52. A suitable clutch 53 is provided for connecting the broom I8 to the shaft 50 or for disconnecting said broom therefrom, said clutch 53 being operated by a hand lever 54. It will be seen that the driving mechanism which has been described is such that the wheels 2 are driven in a clockwise direction for propelling the machine forwardly, while the rotary broom I8 is driven in the opposite direction.

Mounted on the lower portions of the side walls 55 of the hopper I9 are shields 5E which extend rearwardly adjacent the ends of the broom I8. Bolts 51 are provided for adjustably securing the shields 56 to the hopper side walls 55, said shields having vertical slots 58 therein which accommodate said bolts. Safety chains 59 (see Figure l) connect the shields 56 to the frame I.

It is thought that the operation of the machine will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. `With the clutch 39 in engaged position, the engine 35 drives the wheels 2 in a clockwise direction for pulling 'the machine forwardly. If desired, the clutch 39 may be of the reversing type to permit the machine to be backed. With the clutch 53 in engaged position the broom I8 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction for throwing dirt, trash, leaves, etc. up the chute provided by the hinged plate 23 into the hopper I9 where it rests on the inclined bottom 22 and the closure or door 26. The hinged plate 23, together with the rubber lip or blade 24, prevents the rapidly rotating broom I8 from throwing the dirt, etc. forwardly beneath the hopper I9 and, of course, the shields 56 prevent the dirt, etc. from being thrown laterally by the broom. The rubber lip or blade 24 rides easily over obstructions an-d irregularities that may be encountered in the ground, pavement or the like. To empty the hopper I9, the lever SI is actuated to swing the door or closure 25 forwardly and upwardly into the forward portion of said hopper I9 for dropping the dirt, etc., in a substantially Vertical plane onto the ground. The door or closure 2B may return by gravity to closed position. Of course, springs may also be provided, if desirable or necessary, for yieldingly retaining the ldoor or closure 26 in closed position. When it is desired to disconnect the broom I8 from the engine 35 it is only necessary, of course, to throw the clutch 53 to disengaged position. As hereinbefore stated, the wheels 2 may be readily disconnected from the engine 35 through the medium of the clutch 39. The machine is braked by simply actuating the foot pedal 48. By raising or lowering the rear end of the frame I through the medium of the lever II the broom I8 may be adjusted vertically as desired. In this manner the pressure of the .broom may be controlled as desired, also, wear 2 of the drawings, a curbing is designated bythe reference numeral 6I.

It is believed that the many advantages of a sweeper constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the machine is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

A sweeper comprising a frame for supporting a rotatable broom and hopper, a pair of supporting wheels mounted on the forward portion of said frame, a substantially V-shaped, arcuate arm having its extremities attached to the rear portion of said frame and its apex located at a point rearward of and above the rear end of the frame, a vertical bearing located at the apex of the V-shaped arm, a shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in the bearing, a fork on the lower end of said shaft, a supporting and steering wheel journaled in the fork, a hand wheel fixed on the upper end of the shaft for turning the steering wheel, a hand lever pivend engaged with the fork and its other end engaged with the yoke, said lever and coil spring constituting means for raising and lowering the rear end of the frame and for yieldingly supporting said rear end of said frame.

EARL K. FURSTNOW. 

